By Water and Blood (1 John 5:6)

2022-08-15

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1 John 5:6)

Jesus Christ was truly born a human being while completely retaining His deity. The reference to water refers to His coming in the flesh, as we see this same usage in John 3:5-6. It was not enough that He was born a human being; He also literally died, shedding His blood for the sins of the world. John wrote during a time where Gnosticism was becoming prevalent, in which some proponents of the cult were saying that Jesus did not literally become a human being. There are harsh words for those who deny the humanity of Christ:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3)

There are those also who deny the blood of Christ as well, including prominent teachers today. The Scripture is clear: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).

The Spirit testifies of Christ’s humanity and shedding of blood, and there is harmony between the historical facts of Christ’s humanity and the testimony of the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:8). The Trinity also bears witness to this (1 John 5:7). Because of this, whatever men say about the matter, what God Himself says is what truly matters (1 John 5:9). The born-again Christian believes in the humanity and shedding of blood of Christ and has eternal life (1 John 5:10-11). Anyone who teaches contrary to the humanity of Christ and His atoning blood is a lying antichrist. The Spirit is truth, but they call Him a liar, contradicting what He says.